Ticket Information

Event Details

To get to the venue, Techcube, go through the main Victorian entrance at the front of the building.)

Open Rights Group needs your help to defeat the latest attacks on internet freedom! We need to convince MPs that they should oppose new proposals for more surveillance and censorship.

So we're running these training sessions that will help you learn about two of the biggest current digital rights issues and practice how to discuss them with your MP. We'll be covering two big topics:

1. The “Snoopers’ Charter” - aka the Communications Data Bill - was announced in the Queen's speech and is about to be published by the government. The bill will create new powers to intercept and collect information about who you talk to online. Your communications via Google, Facebook or Skype will now be open to what may be a large number of government officials. We want to see the powers to collect and access communications data tightened up, not extended ever further.

2. Internet censorship. The government is considering whether Internet Service Providers should have to block websites that contain 'adult content' by default, with an 'opt out' for uncensored access. That would mean an infrastructure of censorship that could, through mistakes, abuse or mission creep, lead to more and more content being blocked for people in the UK. Our research on mobile Internet censorship recently showed how often the wrong websites can be filtered, for example. We want to prevent this further move towards private policing of the internet and free speech, and recommend better ways to help parents manage their children's Internet access.

You can help stop these proposals. And we are here to help you!

You don't need any previous knowledge of the issues or experience talking with your MP.

The training event will last for around four hours. First we will give you a good background briefing on the issues and an overview of the campaigns. Then we will do some practical training on how to speak to your MP, and cover other campaigning ideas too.

When & Where

Techcube
1 Summerhall Pl
EH9 Edinburgh
United Kingdom

Saturday, June 23, 2012 from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM (BST)

Organizer

Open Rights Group

Open Rights Group is a movement of people committed to protecting our rights to privacy and free speech. The digital age is transforming society: bringing us greater democracy, transparency and new creative possibilities. When these freedoms are under attack, the Open Rights Group is there to defend them. Founded in 2005 by 1,000 digital activists, ORG is the UK's only grassroots organisation dedicated to protecting free speech and privacy online. We challenge threats to these rights through awareness-raising, public campaigns and legal interventions.

ORG is a non-profit company funded by donors, mostly by people like you. We depend on regular contributions to run and win our campaigns.